Maha polls: Mohite-Patil may be fielded from Pandharpur

September 22, 2009 20:58 IST

The Nationalist Congress Party is likely to field its senior leader and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil from Pandharpur, as his constituency Akluj in western Maharashtra has been reserved for scheduled tribes following delimitation.

Party sources said long time sitting Member of Legislative Assembly from Pandharpur Sudhakar Paricharak may not get a ticket to contest the polls.

Mohite-Patil wanted to contest from Madha but the party has decided to retain sitting MLA Baban Shinde from the constituency.

Madha is also the parliamentary constituency of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, while famed temple town of Pandharpur falls in the Solapur Lok Sabha constituency of union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

Pawar, who was in Mumbai on Tuesday held discussions with Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, state unit chief R R Patil, and state ministers Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil at his "Silver Oak" residence in South Mumbai.

Paricharak met Pawar and R R Patil separately during the day.

Meanwhile, supporters of state unit spokesperson Vidya Chavan held a dharna outside the party office, demanding ticket for her from Dindoshi in suburban Mumbai.

Meanwhile, senior NCP leader and Rajyasabha MP Govindrao Adik has downplayed the decision of Jayant Patil, state's home minister, to file his nomination even before the list of candidates was officially announced.

"There are few leaders who have to look after government related work as well party's election campaign throughout the state. So, they would want to file their nominations at the earliest," Adik said.

However, state finance minister Dilip Walse-Patil was not given the party symbol to file his papers on ground that the list of candidates was yet to be announced, party sources said.

Adik said the seat sharing talks between congress and NCP were complete and an official announcement would be made soon.

The party has decided to release the list of its candidates after a formal announcement regarding the alliance was made.